Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Autolycus
in Greek mythology, the maternal grandfather, through his daughter Anticleia, of the hero Odysseus. In Homer's Odyssey the god Hermes rewards Autolycus's faithful sacrifices to him by granting Autolycus skill in trickery, but later ancient authors made him the god's son. He was believed to live at the foot of Mount Parnassus and was famous as a thief and swindler. Late sources say that on one occasion Sisyphus (the son of Aeolus), during a visit to Autolycus, recognized his stolen cattle. It is said that on that occasion Sisyphus seduced Autolycus's daughter Anticleia and that hence Odysseus was really the son of Sisyphus, not of Laertes, whom Anticleia afterward married.
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